Christian McCaffrey won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award while fielding more touches than any player in the league, so the running back provided the 49ers with both quality and quantity on the field.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan hinted that they may want to dial back the quantity a bit as they look to maintain quality through the 2024 season. While speaking to reporters at the team’s offseason workouts this month, Shanahan said the team believes they have enough depth to give other players a run this season in McCaffrey’s place.
“We have guys who can run the ball,” Shanahan said via TheAthletic.com. “We have to protect Christian from himself. He never comes out, no matter what the situation is, and I think we can protect him better with that. When you’re such a threat in the passing game, it’s a little different. . . . But if he just takes the wear and tear of 20 carries and stuff every game — and he’s definitely good enough for that and he’s proven he can stay healthy — but you also want to take that away from him and give it to other guys.”
Elijah Mitchell had 75 carries last season and Jordan Mason ran the ball 40 times, but the 49ers could look at 2024 fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo as a change of pace if he does well in the preseason. They could also simply choose not to break what didn’t need to be fixed last season and continue with McCaffrey as the main force in their offense.
